Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

To the end of March, the Australian new car market was up 8.7 per cent while Queensland was up 10.5 per cent.However, Suzuki sales in Queensland were up 18.24 per cent.It follows record growth over the past five years for Suzuki Auto Co which imports vehicles for Queensland and is a separate company from Suzuki Australia which handles imports for the rest of the nation.Suzuki Auto Co general manager Keith Carroll said Queensland was the strongest performing state, selling 42 per cent of all Suzukis in Australia.“The strength of the product line-up and its relevance to the Queensland market is eagerly being matched by the commitment of the dealer network to the consumer,” he said.Carroll said growth had been across the product range with 16.5 per cent sales increase in the Swift small car, 9.6 per cent growth in Grand Vitara sports utility vehicle, 70 per cent growth in the APV (All-Purpose Van) and 4 per cent for Jimny all-wheel drive.He predicted further growth this year with more model variants becoming available.A base model of the SX4 all-wheel-drive small car will be available in June with about a $1500 discount on the $24,390 vehicle.It will be stripped down to two airbags, no fog lights, steel wheels, and no keyless entry.A 2-litre two-wheel-drive SX4 sedan and hatch will arrive at the end of the year.The sedan will replace the Liana. However, Carroll said that with demand for the Liana still high and supply limited, there would be no discounting of the $18,990 drive-away runout model.Carroll said Suzuki would start importing frugal diesel-powered cars in about 18 months, probably starting with the Grand Vitara and SX4.“We would have liked diesel in the SX4 from day one,” he said.“It would be good to have a passenger car diesel at the same time as a four-wheel drive.”Carroll said it would be a 2 or 2.3-litre diesel engine and the cars would have a higher level of trim.“We have to show that you get a little bit more wow for your dollar,” he said.Supply continued to be the limiting factor on sales growth.However, Carroll said Suzuki was building new plants in Japan, Hungary and India increasing production by 33 per cent.

Honda's ubiquitous CR-V, which has been steadily carving out a niche in Australia since 1997, is bigger, more powerful and safer than in previous years.Originally designed as a limited market derivative of the Civic, the CR-V took off in Australia and by 2000 was the No. 1 seller in the Sports Utility Vehicle segment, outdoing Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol. It was also Honda's top seller in Australia for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.This year there are substantial changes to body and drivetrain. The arched window shape at the rear is probably the most noticeable change from last year while the front grille is different and the spare wheel has disappeared off the back door and now lives under the boot floor.It is now sourced from Honda's Thailand factory rather than Japan.If the rear door mounted spare wheel on the previous model is discounted, the new CRV is 100m longer, stands 20mm shorter, 35mm wider and has 70mm more passenger room. Its wheelbase is 5mm shorter, its front track 30mm wider and rear track 20mm wider. Ground clearance has been reduced by 20mm overall but that should not be regarded as a drawback for this bigger all-round CR-V.While Honda talks about 4WD in brochures, the CR-V has not been designed with beaches or muddy tracks in mind. It really is a computer controlled all-wheel-drive system designed for greater traction on the road, (tarmac or gravel) rather than bush bashing.Most of the time the front wheels are doing all the driving. It is only when there is a lack of traction up front that power gets sent to the rear wheels via a clutch on the rear wheels' driveshaft.The CR-V receives Vehicle Stability Assist for the first time in 2007. The VSA system basically takes over the throttle and brake systems from the driver when the CR-V gets out of shape.It uses the anti-lock braking system and wheel sensors, the electronic “throttle by wire” system and information from other sensors to detect whether the car is over steering (the back is sliding out), or under-steering (the front is going straight ahead rather that to the left or right where the wheels are pointed).When it has all this figured out the computer applies the brakes to what ever wheels will rectify the situation while at the same time managing power by increasing or decreasing throttle opening and advancing or retarding the ignition.VSA sounds highly complicated (and it is) but it works as seamlessly as the excellent transmission and the driver would not know it has assumed partial control unless he noticed the little flashing warning light on the dash.The automatic CR-V as tested is wildly overgeared. If it revved right out in top gear it would be doing about 350km/h.Obviously slowing engine speed in relation to road speed is a good way to save fuel but the CR-V, despite developing 7kW more than the previous model, whips down a couple of gears at even slight slopes if it is carrying four or five people.That is no problem because Honda has developed an impressively slick and sophisticated auto which is not afraid to make the engine rev out to the 6500rpm redline.It changes down a gear without any noticeable lurch or other drama. In many cases, especially if the driver is using cruise control, it is only the rev counter which gives the game away as it changes down in the hunt for more power to keep the 1600kg box shape SUV moving.The onboard trip computer sheds light on why the CRV can be relatively thirsty. On the flat at a steady 100km/h it is using about 7litres per 100km. But if that speed is maintained up a slope and the SUV changes down a gear or two it will be using fuel at the rate of 15 or 16 litres per 100km. So if driven gently on the flat it will be pretty frugal but if you stick your boot into it, or try to maintain 100 or 110km/h with a full load, expect consumption to go up a bit given it is only a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine moving 1620kg, which is more than the Rav4, Subaru Forester or Nissan X-Trail. Honda claims a combined consumption (urban and freeway) of 10L/100km. Leadfoots expect more.The 2007 CRV comes with the usual Honda adherence to quality control. The finish is excellent and the cabin is practical rather than luxurious but with everything falling to hand. There are James Bond-style storage areas all over the place with enough room for sunglasses (in the roof lining) cups (centre and in the front doors), CDs (in the centre) and change (front, back and sides). Missing for 2007 is the integral picnic table which has been sacrificed for space to accommodate the in-car spare wheel.The CR-V comes in three guises, Base, Sport and Luxury. We had both the Sport and Luxury in the CARSguide garage. The differences are in seating, wheels, sound system and parking sensors. The Luxury boasts leather heated seats and an electrically controlled driver's seat and the mag wheels are different on the Luxury. The sound system is slightly better and you get parking sensors, all for $2500.SECOND OPINIONI'VE been checking our previous model Honda CR-V for a listening device.Someone at Honda must have been listening to my conversations. It seems just about every modification in the new model has been in answer to my complaints, minor though they are.The CR-V has been a model family car; economical, practical, stylish and dependable.My complaints were that there was not enough legroom in the front, it needed audio controls on the steering wheel, there was too much road noise and the auto shifter being positioned on the steering column.Now there is plenty of room for me to stretch out up front, the audio controls are easily accessible on the steering wheel, the road noise is substantially reduced and the shifter has moved to a more commonsense location by the centre stack like the Odyssey.On top of all that there are some nice styling mods (except for the ugly inside door grips which look like bicycle cranks), clever little storage bins and cubbyholes, and the natty convex mirror above the rear-view mirror which allows you to check up on your kids: “Billy stop hitting your sister!”The new model also handles and steers sharper than before and there is slightly more power in the daily driving range.My only complaint is the relocation of the rear door spare tyre.That tyre saved us an expensive fix in a minor rear-ender when my daughter was driving.With the spare wheel now located under the cargo floor the handy picnic table and wet storage area have been scrapped.Honda CR-V Price:$37,490-$41,990ENGINE:Willing, but a bit of a screamer and noisy.HANDLING: Good, for a tall, boxy, SUVSAFETY: New stability controlECONOMY: Good for lightfootsVALUE: Top quality buildSPECS: ENGINE: 2354cc, inline, fuel injected, four-cylinder DOHC with variable valve timingPOWER: 125kW @ 5,800rpmTORQUE: 218Nm @ 4,200rpmTRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual, 5-speed automatic with grade logic control (as tested) real time 4WDFUEL: ULP 91, 10L/100km (claimed)WHEELS: alloy 6.5 x 17, full size spareTYRES: 225/65 R17 102TEMISSIONS: Euro 4/low emission vehicleFOR: Roomy and slick transmissionAGAINST: Lacking in grunt, zales figures tell the tale

Improvements to the S40 sedan and V50 wagon include a power boost for the turbo petrol T5, a six-speed manual for the diesel D5, cosmetic changes and better safety features.When the new models arrive in Australia later this year, the diesel D5 will come with a six-speed manual transmission option.When the D5 was introduced here in March, it came only with a five-speed automatic transmission. The manual transmission can handle the engine's full 400Nm of torque, compared with the 350Nm of the automatic gearbox.Volvo Car Australia public relations manager Todd Hallenbeck says the first allocation of diesel variants was small but has already sold out.“The idea of a performance diesel is still very foreign in Australia; where in Europe it is a growing segment above the larger diesel segment,” he says. Meanwhile, the new turbo-charged petrol T5 S40 and V50 models will come with a 7.5kW power boost.The sedan now resembles the new Volvo S80 saloon with a more profound nose, chrome-framed egg-crate grille, clear-lens headlights, 50 per cent larger Volvo badge and one-piece air intake with fog lights.At the rear, the smaller tail lights have light emitting diode (LED) brake lights and sit 30mm higher, while the exhaust pipes are larger and integrated into the rear bodywork for a clearly sportier look.The V50 Sportswagon gets a similar restyle, but retains the three-piece front air dam.Inside, the iconic Volvo floating centre stack has new controls. The armrest is now longer, flips 180 degrees to act as a table for rear passengers, has more storage and the iPod or auxiliary input connector is now underneath.There is also a more compact handbrake and the front-door storage has been increased.Instruments have been restyled, the Premium Sound system gets the Dynaudio speakers available elsewhere in the Volvo range and a redesigned remote key fob with automatic opening and closing for all windows and sunroof. The S40 and V50's safety improvements include hazard lights which activate when airbags are deployed.

To be launched here later this month, the car was chosen from a list of 28 nominated by journalists from 22 countries including Australia. The announcement was made at the New York International Auto Show. Jurors considered the LS 460 to be “classically luxurious, with modern execution, unquestioned quality and more than ample power”. A green alternative, the LS 600h hybrid will be released later this year. Cars are judged on a number of criteria including styling, quality, performance and safety. The top three contenders were the Lexus, Audi TT and the Mini. The TT won the design award, while Audi's RS4 won the performance car trophy and Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC won the green car award. First winner of the three-year-old award was the Audi A6 in 2005, followed last year by the BMW 3 Series.

In July, GM Holden will begin importing the small H3 version of the box-shaped SUV made famous in the first Gulf War and by proud owners such as Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. We will get the 3.7 litre in-line five-cylinder model, however, a 5.3-litre V8 H3 sport-ute is set for release in the US next year. GM spokesperson Emily Perry said they had no plans to bring the V8-powered Hummer to Australia and that they had nearly 150 orders for the H3 since announcing pricing and specification at the Brisbane Motor Show in February. The H3 five-cylinder petrol engine (180kW and 320Nm) will be married to either a five-speed manual or electronic four-speed automatic transmission. This compares with the US V8 Alpha version which delivers 220kW and 430Nm through a four-speed auto and 4WD. If you ache for something bigger and meaner, Performax International of Gympie converts left-hand-drive 5x2x2m H2 Hummers. The H2 boasts a six-litre Chev V8 which can be supercharged to deliver 242kW power and 495Nm torque. GM Holden will import three South African built H3 models. The base model ($51,990 manual, $53,990 auto) features stability control, traction control and ABS standard. The more off-road capable H3 Adventure ($57,990 manual, $59,990 auto) has fully locking electronic rear differential and rugged suspension. Top of the range is the Luxury with chrome trim exterior and leather interior ($59,990 auto only). GM expects to sell 750 Hummers this year and 1400-1500 in a full year.

But how does it go on our streets where diesel costs about 12 more?With the launch here this year of the Phase II Laguna in a one-spec diesel model, Renault has become one of the last European companies to get on board the diesel road train in Australia.Europeans go nuts for diesel, which is not only cheaper, but also attracts all sorts of concessions and subsidies from their governments.No such luck here. We pay more for the cruder fuel type and get no help whatsoever from our governments.Still, with diesel power about 30 per cent more efficient then petrol, diesel passenger car sales are up about 140 per cent on last year, although it is only 3.6 per cent of the total passenger car market.Renault is therefore not chasing a big total market share with its Laguna, but the introduction of the car in diesel-only shows it is after its fair share of the growing oil-burner sector.When it was last sold here about 20 months ago, Laguna came in seven hatchback and wagon variants priced from $39,990 to $57,990.Since then, Renault has streamlined its product range for efficiency, so now you get the Laguna 2.2 dCi for $46,990. And that's it.Its design is sleeker and less geeky than when it was last here, but it is still no fashion leader.The exterior shape is more like the 1990s Honda and Subaru when those companies fell off the design bandwagon with a solid thump.It's probably not that bad, but certainly no design chiefs are benchmarking future product on it. Even its long rear hatchback design is one which has long been passed over.However, if you like a sedan look with the virtues and practicality of a hatch, this is one of the few around to choose from.The interior is another matter.The new dashboard, console, leather-wrap steering wheel and instruments are classy, modern and functional.The cloth and leather seats are also comfortable and supportive.It is a supremely pleasant environment for driver and passengers with just about every feature you can name.There are auto wipers, rear and rear-side sun blinds, stalk-mounted audio controls, cruise and speed limiter controls, and adjustable headlights. Safety features include a host of airbags (dual front, two side and curtain), anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist and electronic stability control including anti-understeer.Two convenience features stand out.They are: an electronic handbrake which automatically engages when the vehicle is in park and switched off, then disengages when the accelerator is pressed; and a hands-free key card which unlocks/locks the doors without pressing any buttons.These are the sorts of features that usually come only in luxury German cars.It is powered by a 2.2-litre direct injection common-rail diesel engine producing 320Nm of torque, 10Nm less than a VE Commodore.The unit is a little lethargic to begin with. Stamp on the throttle and it pauses, then kicks into life.It is actually better to squeeze the juice slower and more smoothly for a better response.So long as you are a patient driver, it works fine.In the meat of the daily driving rev range there are ample portions of power. In fact, maximum torque runs from 1750-2500rpm.Then there is a top-end fizzle. It simply runs out of steam, er diesel.Economy is claimed to be 7.7litres per 100km, which is good for a medium-size desel car, but not great.For those concerned about the environment, it is Euro 4 compliant and is fitted with a particulate filter to cut emissions.Across cobblestone Paris streets the Laguna would be a dream with its lush suspension.Yet that does not translate into a wallowing barge on our roads.Renault has struck a great compromise between handling and ride with a flat cornering attitude and a smooth feel over potholes.Steering feels heavy and vague, with slow turn-in.Cabin noise is exceptionally low for a diesel. You would have to wind the window down at traffic lights to identify it as a diesel.The biggest letdown in this otherwise value package is the transmission which is slow, unresponsive and unpredictable.This hopeless box hunts around for gears, sometimes selects the wrong ones and flares on engagement.However, if you don't challenge it with awkward snap decisions, it works just fine.This car is one for patient, considerate, economical and environmental drivers.

The Cayenne V6-powered SUV is on sale now for $97,400.According to Porsche press relations manager Paul Ellis it is the first Porsche under $100,000 for about 20 years and the cheapest in real terms in the company's modern history.However, the vehicle which is tipped to be its most successful was not available to drive at the national launch in the Victorian Alps last week.Ellis said some were in the country for sale, but none was available for the press launch.It seems Porsche in Germany demands they run in press cars before they are released and with limited time available only the Cayenne S ($134,500) and top-of-the-range Cayenne Turbo ($215,200) were chosen for the launch.Ellis said the press vehicles had to be especially flown out for the launch."We have nothing to hide in the V6," Ellis said. "A lot of the marketing will revolve around the V6."Porsche Australia managing director Michael Winkler said they chose the high performance models so it wouldn't "confuse" the press.While the Cayenne S has 283kW of power and the Turbo has 368kW, the V6, called simply the Cayenne, delivers 213kW and weighs 2160kg, which means a power-to-weight ratio of 10.1kg/kW. This compares with the low-output V6 Holden Commodore which has figures of 186kW, 1570kg and 8.4kg/kW.Winkler admitted the V6 Cayenne would be slower than a Commodore but said it would be faster than its competitors.He said the V6 Cayenne had created a lot of interest among customers, especially since it looked almost identical to the Cayenne S.He said supply would be controlled so the V6 did not represent more than 30 per cent of all Cayenne sales, or 150. Cayenne S would be about 50 per cent or 220 and Turbo 20 per cent or 90, he said. Porsche expects SUV sales to reach 460 this year. When released here in 2003, Cayenne was the most popular Porsche, selling 442, compared with 417 911s and 328 Boxsters and Caymans.In its first full year of sales in 2004, it sold 562, compared with 380 for the 911 and 322 for Boxster and Cayman.However, 911 has since climbed back to the top with sales of Cayenne down to 414 in 2005 and 332 last year."We're not interested in setting sales records," Winkler said."We want to remain an exclusive brand and maintain resale value which leads to buyers coming back."Winkler said in the US, customers optioned up the V6 much more than V8 which meant that instead of a 25 per cent price difference it was about eight per cent."I`m not sure if that will happen here." he said.

Instead, Australia could start with the three-door or convertible version of Kia's first European designed, engineered and built vehicle. Kia Motors Australia senior product planner Nick Reid is expecting to have some variety of cee'd here by the middle of next year."Maybe the three-door or convertible, but the five-door hatch is what we would really like to bring in first," he says.In the first couple of months since its European launch there has already been 40,000 orders for the car.The Slovakian factory where it is produced, along with the Sportage, has an annual production limit of 300,000 and Kia conservatively estimates it will sell 150,000 cee'ds a year.Add to that the already heavy demand coming from right-hand-drive markets such as the UK and South Africa, and Australia might have to wait for the five-door model which is expected to represent about 65 per cent of cee'd sales.Reid would prefer to import the two-litre petrol and diesel five-door hatches, but would be happy with the three-door or soft-top "ex-cee'd" which debuted as a concept at the Geneva motor show this month.A sporty wagon begins production in September and the three-door cee'd is expected to be built from December.Cabrio production will be confirmed later this year. There is also talk of a turbo two-litre hot hatch. Reid says Australia may not get the wagon, but it could take the lively five-speed 1.6-litre, five-door diesel as an entry model, if supply is a problem. "We need to get it at the right price. It will be just under the price of the Magentis," Reid says. The Magentis starts at $25,990."People are used to Kia being cheap and cheerful, but this is a Euro car, so we're going to have to rebrand."Reid says the cee'd will replace the Korean-built Cerato hatch, but not the sedan, and will compete with other European products such as the Astra, Focus and Golf.European product planner David Labrosse says that with ABS, ESP, six airbags, a stiff chassis and crash intrusion protection Kia expected a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash testing in June.It would be the first Korean company to get a five-star rating, he says.I covered a variety of road surfaces and driving conditions while testing the cee'd in and around Frankfurt last week.I drove the 1.6-litre diesel and 1.6 petrol with the five-speed manual boxes. Both engines are willing powerplants, although the diesel runs out of puff on hills and needs gear shifting to keep the revs right.Kia claims it has the longest wheelbase in its segment, which would account for its high-speed stability on the autobahn.Turn-in is a little slow and the steering a little heavy on the diesel, because of the extra engine weight up front, but its cornering and road manners are otherwise impeccable. Panel fit, paint and build quality is excellent.The typically austere Korean hard plastic cabin trim has been replaced by quality Euro trim and plenty of creature features.None of the trim rattled, even on cobblestone streets in the villages.Apart from the cee'd, Kia is set for a big year in new models. In June, it will release the Sorento with a 2.5-litre diesel engine, followed by the Sportage in July-August with a two-litre diesel.The Carens small people mover, to be called the Rondo in Australia and the US, will be released in September with the Picanto 1.1-litre light car coming later in the year.Kia Motors Australia public relations manager Jonathan Fletcher described the Rondo as a smaller version of the Carnival, which is Australia's top-selling people mover.It will come with a two-litre petrol engine with five-speed manual and four-speed auto and a two-litre diesel with six-speed manual and four-speed auto.The Korean-built five-seater vehicle will arrive with more than one trim level and is expected to be offered with a $1400-$1500 optional seven-seater configuration to compete against VW's Caddy Life."We won't know the exact price but we are aiming at under $25,000. The petrol model will be the entry level," Fletcher says.On a test drive in and around Frankfurt, the manual diesel returned 7.5L/10km on a mix of autobahn, country and city driving. Rondo feels well-planted on the road and compares favourably in size with compact SUVs such as Honda's CR-V and Nissan X-Trail.There is plenty of legroom front and back for the tallest of passengers. We only drove the five-seater, so it was difficult to determine space for the third row, but it appears there would be no cargo area left when it was deployed. Kia claims 74 litres of space remain.

Big ol' muscle cars with plenty of Yankee attitude.Yet the brand has returned to Australia after two decades with the Caliber; a front-wheel-drive crossover between a small car and a compact SUV.Not what you would expect of the aggressive US brand with the ram's head in the cross-hair grille.You would also expect a Dodge to have a big block engine with loads of grunt, like the Challenger and Avenger which will hit our shores in coming years.Meanwhile, the brand has been reintroduced with the Caliber powered by some rather puny engines.There are seven models: ST 1.8L 5-speed manual $23,990; SX 1.8L manual $25,990; SX 2L CVT $28,490; SXT 1.8L manual $27,490; SXT 2L CVT $29,990; R/T 2.4L manual $29,990; and 2.0-litre CRD turbo diesel $28,990.The 1.8 and 2-litre petrol units are very underpowered; just 110kW of power and 168Nm of torque for the 1.8 and 115kW and 190Nm for the 2.0.However, the 2.4litre R/T, which stands for Road and Track, is not as you would expect.Yes, it's got a bit more salsa in the brew (127kW and 224Nm), but it is hardly what I would call a track car. Furthermore, the extra power only serves to highlight the pitch, roll and understeer of the high-stance, short wheelbase car.It also exaggerates the massive torque steer and in wet weather there is plenty of scrambling for front-end traction.The only concession to the extra power seems to be the welcome addition of Electronic Stability Program and Traction Control which work overtime even in the dry.ESP is a $490 option in the other models.This engine should be in the base model while a sporty model should come with a bit more power and better suspension.For me, the pick is the 2-litre turbo diesel SXT with 103kW of power and 310Nm of torque.This is not intimidating power, just usable power that drives you off the line without wheelspin and helps pass other vehicles on the highway.The only problem with the diesel is that the power comes on in a bit of a burst just over 2000rpm which seems to occur when you are exiting a corner.That sudden rush of power causes a fight between driver and steering wheel to stay on track.The CRD sips diesel at a claimed 6 litres per 100km although it registered 7.1 on my stint, compared with the R/T which drank petrol at a rate of 9L/100km, compared with the claimed rate of 7.7.Like the R/T, the CRD has ESP and Brake Assist standard, adding to its five-star safety rating.The diesel also gets the six-speed manual, while the R/T only gets the five-speed.Both shifts feel notchy and the sharp fake chrome on the top of the R/T shifter is rough against the soft inside of your hand.They steer and stop well, and cabin noise is eerily quiet with almost no wind buffeting and scant tyre scrub.The only noise comes from the engines. The petrol unit wails a bit at high revs, while the diesel has a not unpleasant note.Ride is firm without being harsh and the 195mm clearance is excellent for around-town duties such as mounting footpaths and straddling shopping centre speed bumps and suburban traffic calming obstacles.Inside the R/T are a few splashes of extra colour and pizzazz you don't get in the other models. There are blue seat inserts, a blue centre stack and illuminated cup holders.Yet, there is still plenty of cheap-looking, hard-feel plastic trim and an armrest that is so hard it hurts and it builds up static which tickled the hairs on my arm. Caliber standard features include dual front and side-curtain air bags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, keyless entry with Sentry Key engine immobiliser, security alarm, central locking, air-conditioning, CD stereo, steering wheel adjustable for height but not reach, driver one-touch power windows, power folding heated exterior mirrors and 60/40 split rear seats that fold flat.The R/T adds ESP, Traction Control and Brake Assist, 18-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats with colour inserts, colour-matched centre stack,a bright exhaust tip and chrome body details.R/T options include a power sunroof for $1980, 18-inch alloy wheels for $490, a premium sound system at $1075 and leather $2475.Inside and outside, the Caliber looks different to almost anything else on the road.Design is a love/hate thing. Some people love it, some hate it.In this regard, it is very much like its quirky retro-style company cousin, the Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Volkswagen Group Australia yesterday said it would begin importing Skoda Octavia sedans and wagons and the Roomster small people mover in October.The 101-year-old Czech sister brand of VW joins Americans Dodge and Hummer, and Italian brand Fiat as new marques in the Australian market, with GM Holden also planning to introduce Cadillac within a year and several Chinese brands due for import.VGA managing director Jutta Dierks said Skoda would represent a cheaper "smart alternative" to VW and would "attract people away from other brands"."Whenever we take over an importership we have a long-term commitment," she said."There are more than 50 brands in the country so it will be tough to start with, but it is a long-term process."Skoda's Australian chief and VGA public relations general manager Matthew Wiesner said they hoped to have dealers organised by the launch of the brand."We're going through the network now and we hope to have 12 to 15 dealers by launch time,"he said. "We'll use selected existing VW dealers at first but the brand needs to be separate."Skoda was last in the Australian market in 1983. In 1991 Volkswagen bought 30 per cent of the Czech company and the remaining shares in 2000.Wiesner said the Skoda vehicle range would include a mix of diesel and petrol, sedans and wagons.The new Fabia five-door hatch small car, launched this month at the Geneva Motor Show, is under consideration for 2008.Skoda employs more than 27,000 people and sells in 90 countries.